I am with a large group (8-13 people) that meets at El Portal twice monthly. The food is always delicious and we have the same waitress, Beatrice, who is so friendly and capable and takes good care of us every time. All the staff is very accommodating. read more

A group of 8 of us came here before the Pasadena Playhouse show and ate outside, which was very comfortable. My wife ordered a grilled chicken salad and I had chicken fajitas, she liked her salad more than I liked my fajitas but all was good. Hugo was a good server but it did take forever to get our food, not sure if it was because he was really busy or the kitchen was overwhelmed with orders. We've been here before and will come again sometime in the future before a play as we are season seat holders. read more

Yummy food and good ambience! The service was friendly and inviting. I enjoyed mole enchiladas stuffed with chicken, Spanish rice and black beans were savory. I only wish the temperature on the mole sauce was hotter or tortillas under heated I don't know I guess I'm picky about details like that. Overall good place for a happy hour or group gathering with friends for a tasty experience. I'll be back to try some combo plates which look delicious read more

I love El Portal. The food is delicious, the portions are generous, and the prices feel fair for what you get. It really hits the spot when you're craving comforting, flavorful Mexican food. The chips are fresh, the salsa is good, and the menu has offerings that feel more authentic and varied than a lot of other places. I especially appreciate that they have Yucatán cuisine options, which you do not always see at every Mexican restaurant. I am also very fussy with mole and typically do not like it at all, but I actually really enjoy the mole from El Portal. It has been a real eye-opener for me and honestly inspired me to give mole another shot elsewhere. One thing to keep in mind: a lot of the combo plates are smothered in delicious red sauce and plenty of cheese, so if you are not a big cheese person, just be aware before ordering. The enchiladas are good, though sometimes they could use a little more sauce, as the tortillas can come out a bit dry. The margaritas are tasty, but they do feel a little small for the price (Roughly $16 for a 8oz glass?!) The staff are friendly, the vibe is nice, and overall the food is consistently good. The only other heads-up is that some of the tables and booths are pretty small, so it can feel a little cramped in the main dining room. Also, **make sure you get your parking validated**. This is important because if you do not, the parking lot can be extremely expensive. You can also look for street parking on Green Street. Still, El Portal is a spot I really enjoy and it is on our regular rotation of places to dine. read more

A great go to Mexican gem that has anchored the Pasadena theater district for decades. Always on the best of Pasadena list for its seafood specialties and margaritas. Live entertainment on some nights with patio seating read more

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This place is amazing! From their mocktails to entrees. I came for a work event and the beef with guac appetizer was so filling. I didn't need to order more food but enjoyed the appetizer so much that I tried the Yucatán trio was good. I highly recommend this place . The servers were helpful In making recommendations and the ambiance was nice. We had our own private room! read more

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We were seated right away when we arrived, great service, the margaritas were delicious !! My daughter and I ordered the " Cochinita Pibill " it was delicious came with black beans and Rice, we had ordered Guacamole it was home made Came with "Chicharrón Never had it served that way, it was delicious. They had patio sitting we sat indoors since it was a cold night. I definitely recommend and will return. read more

El Portal - Cochinita pub Diet Coke - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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10/10 El Portal was a deciding factor in moving to Pasadena from the bay. The drinks, food, and service never disappoint. The blended margarita pitcher and steak fajitas never miss the mark. Special shoutout to Beatrix for always making El Portal a night we look forward to. read more

Private rooms available this one holds 64 reserve for $200 min purchase $900 tgeres a smaller room more quiet holds 45. You c. reserve outdoor space for buffet for additional $100 or choose a custom smaller menu. Chips, salsa, soda, salad, beans, rice, cheese enchiladas, grilled chicken, grilled steak, guacamole abd corn/flour tortillas. read more

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Pleasantly surprised at how much I loved this place. I was nervous because it had 3.5 stars on Yelp. Idk why. It was such a lovely experience. I came with my husband and family. We celebrated my mom and my birthday. They allowed us to bring our own cake from Portos. It's such a lovely place! The ambiance is intimate so it is perfect for a date or low key event. The food came out so quickly and everyone loved their food. They offer complimentary chips and salsa. Our table ordered shrimp tacos, chilaquiles, mole enchiladas (chicken), and two chicken fajitas. Everything was absolutely delicious. My mom is incredibly picky and she didn't have one complaint. We didn't order alcohol but I had El Pepino mocktail. It was refreshing and delicious. They offer both indoor and outdoor seating. The staff were friendly and attentive. Highly recommend. read more

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What I like about El Portal is not only do you get good food and service, but also how they mix up the menu with specials. This is the local Pasadena go to for a good time, good food and relaxed atmosphere There is a charm to this place that's appreciated by the locals and a quaint discovery for out of owners. read more

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We hosted our wedding reception at El Portal, a very intimate brunch celebration. Communication between Manager was smooth, very quick to respond. The day of went smoothly, our Host was very sweet and attentive to everyone's needs, she packed left overs to take. Enjoyed the family friendly atmosphere. read more

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I really enjoyed eating here. This restaurant is tucked away in Pasadena and really works to immerse you with the themed decor. Super immersive and cute. Such a solid spot for authentic Mexican cuisine. Charming through and through. Both the indoor and outdoor area are themed and delightful and I don't think either one is better or worse, in fact I want to come again just to spend more time inside because I was super happy with the outside alleyway seating and would love to bring others to enjoy it as well. I thought the crunchy tacos were excellent. Usually I'm not much of a chicken taco fan but I thought these ones were super good and savory. Service was spot on. Atmosphere was authentic and festive. Food was perfection. Can't ask for anything more! read more

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El Portal never disappoints! The patio is absolutely lovely -- a great spot to relax and soak in the atmosphere. We started with the guacamole, which was fresh and delicious, served with chips and salsa. A must-order have. We were only there for drinks. Our waitress was attentive, polite, and made the whole experience feel welcoming. The vibe here is consistently great, which keeps us coming back. One small note: the beer bottles could be served a bit colder -- but honestly a minor detail when everything else hits the mark. Highly recommend El Portal for a fun, laid-back meal with great food. read more

El Portal - Love this vibe. - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

Charming Mexican restaurant with incredible live music and entertainment. El Portal captures the ambiance of a fiesta filled household. The outdoor patio and indoor seating available make the dining experience perfect. I love their tacos, burritos, and combo plates, you honestly can't go wrong with anything on their menu. I usually come with a group because there's plenty of seating. As for the staff, they are the sweetest. Highly recommend supporting this amazing local business. read more

We had tickets to a show at Pasadena Playhouse so we're looking for someplace close by. El Portal is basically across the street at the Arcade shopping area. It was a lovely dinner, very pleasant with live music playing. We sat outside had a lovely cool breeze on a warm day. At our table we ordered the Yucatán Trio, el Portal Tostada and a combination with chile relleno, chicken enchilada, and pork taco. We also had a slice of flan for dessert. The food was delicious and service was excellent. read more

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This Mexican restaurant is hidden off of Green Street with private parking lot. The whole lot is festive for the holidays and decorated for Christmas. The choices are many, but the fish tacos had my name on it. Our waiter was quick to bring our dinner and was nice about keeping up with our orders. The plus for this restaurant is got 500 more frequent flyer miles by dining here! read more

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Had a private event here and they really hit it out of the park. Amazing staff, service and food!! Would definitely come back.

Seated without a wait around 7p on a Saturday. Patio seating with a unneeded propane heater tableside. Food and drinks ordered. Food arrived lightning fast. Food was tasty and service was attentive. read more

Happy hour is until 6 which is a win in my books. I noticed some places are only until 5 these days not even 5:30.. 11$ happy hour drinks (margaritas and Paloma's are strong) and 11$ for 2 large beef flautas. You can add a side of beans for 5$. The bar can get packed and busy, so be prepared to be patient especially if the one bartender is making drinks for the entire restaurant. My main squeeze got a chicken fajita burrito (which he said was better than the carne asada one, surprisingly) -- definitely check this place out and get an outside table if you come with a group. The patio is nice read more

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I skipped lunch for my dinner anticipating a well deserved meal, I know first hand the restaurant business is tough so I'll say not bad, not good seemed the experience was low energy. My date opted on NOT having another margarita she said "I'll save the calories" food was ok meh, they closed at 8 read more

The average score is a bit harsh. This place is a solid 4 stars but I rounded up to 5 for the good service. After visiting the Huntington Library in the grueling heat and hordes of people, looked for somewhere closeby to eat on co-pilot, and was suggested this place with a patio which was one of my requirements. Arrived and parked on the street on a Sunday which is free, and could not find the place it's kind of tucked away. After walking up a block found the charming little passage way with some patio seating. It seems like it's a family-owned and operated restaurant as always a great indicator of things to come is the complimentary chips and salsa. They were perfectly thin crispy non-salty and warm, paired with a nice salsa that seems house made but was a little too tomato/ketchupy but by no means bad. I had crispy taco with shredded beef and chili relleno combo. It was pretty good. ($21 )I enjoyed the rice and beans and it was a filling portion. Wife and mother-in-law split a carne asada plate the meat was flavorful and tender ($30) came with the cheese enchilada was also very enjoyable. They have a really large patio so it's hard to fill but people kept coming in and out so the locals know something. It won't blow you away but it is a very solid Mexican spot and I'm glad we stopped by. Dos Equis bottles were really cold, gracias para mi bungholio. read more

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El Portal was a fantastic place to have brunch! Our waitress, Beatrice was so kind and attentive. read more

El Portal - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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It's a fairly nice restaurant in terms of atmosphere. The service is great--the waiters are very sweet and attentive. However, a word of caution: I got the worst stomachache after eating here. Not sure what caused it, but I usually don't have this problem. Tortilla Soup (complimentary from the waiter due to me picking no beans in my taco) - Very well-seasoned and flavorful. It had tortilla strips, cheese, and guacamole in it. 2 Carne Asada Soft Tacos ($23) - Pretty good, though I'm not sure they were completely worth the price. They do come with a generous serving of rice, but these definitely weren't the best tacos I've had. I probably wouldn't come back here any time soon. read more

El Portal - #15 Two Soft Tacos of Carne Asada Combo - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Pretty solid spot. The ambiance is very nice and their outdoor patio is *the* best on a beautiful sunny day. Food was tasty- we had 2 of their burritos (carne asada and pork). Solid 7/10. I had a mango margarita which was very yummy but definitely on the weaker side in terms of alcohol. Service was quick. read more

El Portal - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Had the chef special - Chili En Norgada. BEST mexican food dish I've ever had. Absolutely amazingly good. Shared a bite with 3 family members and they totally agreed. read more

Worst Mexican food I've ever had. Lots of Caucasian's were eating in this establishment. I should have known better. Horrible food. I ordered a burrito machaca... it was meh and my husband got the special which was awful. Location is nice but we didn't get to sit outside with the Caucasian folk. We got seated in the furthest corner of the restaurant. read more

This is a pretty decent restaurant. Staff was very nice, location was clean and food was good. Portions were good size and pricing was fair. We arrived at about 5pm on a Friday night and it was fairly empty, but by about 6pm, it was pretty packed. So if you're going to go, be prepared to wait. The only issue encountered was lack of attention to the table. No one really checked on us to offer refills or if we needed anything. It may just be due to the staffing though, so it's all ok. They were great when we were able to flag them down. read more

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Meh! Hadn't heard of this place so we had no expectations. It was okay, but nothing to write home about. Our server sat us then forgot about us. The guacamole wasn't very authentic and it took forever to get the servers attention. Maybe it was an off day... read more

The pumpkin soup was hands down one of the best! A must try when available on their seasonal fall menu. Topped with infused olive oil and pepita seeds. Sooooo good! I would definitely go back just for a bowl. Chile relleno had that melty cheese spilling out with each fork full. Chicken taco for Ray and a enchilada for the mama. A la carte or in a meal. Service was great, food was substantial but the star was the pumpkin soup. After packaging up our left overs chips and salsa was our dessert of choice. Plenty to choose from on their traditional menu offerings. A beautiful venue for a small intimate dinner or for larger group gatherings. The ambiance on their patio is divine for an evening out. It's a courtyard right in front of their restaurant surrounded by little cute shops. They do have mariachi's performing table by table so it does get a little harder to have conversations. If you're into it, it'll be enjoyable. Heaters kept us nice and toasty. Free parking for dine in customers! The attendant will assist you. What an enjoyable first visit to celebrate our "cousinsgiving" read more

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Preface- Thanks to my Yelp friends, I've been lucky in finding great eateries and establishments in the Pasadena area. And this luck did not stop here! El Portal located on Colorado Blvd. in the center of Pasadena town. it's in a strip mall or strip office building. You will have to walk into the courtyard to find it. Indoor dining and patio dining available. In the winters they fire up their heaters and lamps in the patio. Food decent. Service decent. Ambiance decent and I consider it to be as authentic as one can be in the area you are at to luck out and find a Yucatan eatery. Guacamole made fresh to order. The carne asada was seasoned well and I had it served as a taco. Mariachi band on site and table roam. Price reasonable. Go there or be square! read more

El Portal - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Busy lunch time spot even on a weekday! Clearly a good spot with many regulars in search of authentic Mexican food. Guacamole with chicharones made in house is a hit. The sizzling fajitas are also a win. Highly recommend for group meal, happy hour, and any special occasion. Heard there's mariachi bands too great vibes on weekends. read more

El Portal - Lomos Saltado - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Beatrice is a sensational server! For several years my movie group has met at El Portal bi-weekly on Wednesday afternoons. We specifically ask for Beatrice to be our server. She is so efficient, patient, and kind! Never missing a beat, or a smile!! read more

Hello, I have had amazing experiences at El Portal in Pasadena. My movie group has been meeting here for over eight years every other week to discuss movies. We almost always sit in the same place, in the back hand corner of the restaurant so we can talk and share opinions. The best part has been our server, Beatrice. She knows us and treats us beautifully. She's like one of the group and because of that, we like to honor her with a gift and a card once in a while. By this time, she knows what we like and when I sit down, she says, "Diet coke with lemon?" And at the end of our meal (10-12 people) we all pay individually, which makes life so easy. The food is delicious and we've tried a lot of items on the menu. But Beatrice's service is the highlight. Check out the restaurant--it's got a wonderful vibe! read more

Good food, great drinks, friendly service. Nice indoor and outdoor seating options. Great place to catch a game or hangout w friends. Paid parking is available on site or metered parking off site on side streets. read more

Armando took such great care of us! We tried the cheeseburger for cheeseburger week then it was delicious! We sat outside and it was a beautiful sunny day. Parking was easy in the back. Prices were very reasonable. read more

El Portal is a solid spot for Mexican food. I got the Carne Asada burrito and it hit the spot, was absolutely delicious. The service was fast and friendly. The restaurant is large, clean but filled up fast! Street parking or validated lots are easy and convenient. Definitely worth a stop if you're in the area! read more

Great for large or small groups. Food and drinks were delicious during happy hour and you got more choices in the regular menu as well. Our service was attentive and we got our request and refills as needed. Private parking but scan the QR code inside the restaurant to register your car. read more

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I came to this restaurant for a second time and had a great experience again. Not just the food but the customer service is amazing. I will definitely come back again. read more

My wife and I haven't been here in a while and we stopped in to try cocktails and appetizers. Amazing service and the drinks were fantastic. Caleb mixed an exquisite cadillac margarita and a superb lemon drop. Food was great and service excellent. This is a great little restaurant tucked away between Greent Street and Colorado. Highly recomment read more